The story of what is now known as the Secondary Division is comparatively new, this being the first report ever made to the great International Convention, of which it is a part. Therefore, perhaps, a bit of history should be given.

It was during the meeting of the Intermediate Department Committee held at Conference Point, Lake Geneva, Wis., nearly two years ago, that the problems of the departments covering the "teen age" of the Sunday School were most earnestly discussed. We were brought face to face with the fact that the church and Sunday school have suffered excessive losses from these departments.

"How to more thoroughly interest the boys and girls of the 'teen age' in the Sunday school and in the study of God's Word, and thereby save to the Church this seemingly unnecessary loss," was the question that commanded most earnest study on the part of the committee.

It was generally admitted that the losses from the Senior Department were the heaviest and that the work which was being done for

this department, in connection with the Adult Department, was not producing proper results. It was conceded that the greatest need in dealing with the problem was a wider knowledge of this peculiar age, and that this could best be accomplished by combining the work of the Intermediate and Senior Departments under one general division. The committee, therefore, adopted the following resolutions:

"Resolved, (1) That it is the sense of this committee that the work of the Intermediate Department (which includes pupils of the Sunday School from thirteen to sixteen years of age, inclusive) and the Senior Department (which includes pupils from seventeen to ninteen years of age, inclusive) can be best developed by the formation of a new general division, to be known as the 'Secondary Division,' covering the work of both departments exactly as is done in the departments composing the Elementary Grades, each department, however, to retain its respective name and identity, and separate organization in the local school."

This resolution was presented to the International Adult Committee, then in session at the same place, and after conference it was decided to lay the whole matter before a joint committee made up of five members from each committee, including Chairman Hartshorn and Secretary Lawrance. The result of the meeting of the joint committee was the adoption of the following resolution:

"Resolved, That, in order to determine beyond question what plan would best solve this problem, a committee should be appointed, consisting of two members each of the Adult and of the Intermediate Department committees and the General Secretary of the Association. This committee was instructed to prepare a questionnaire, to be sent to experts in Sunday School and high school work, denominational Sunday School secretaries, editors and publishers, seeking to discover how the present Senior Grade (ages seventeen to nineteen, inclusive) could best be grouped for the most effective work."

This resolution was presented to the Executive Committee of the International Sunday School Association on August 20, 1909, and the plan was approved, and referred to the Central Committee with power to act on the result of the questionnaire.

In accordance with the instructions given to the Central Committee, a questionnaire was sent out, with the result that nearly three-fourths favored the new division. The plan was adopted and the first Committee of the "Secondary Division" was appointed, as follows:

Edgar H. Nichols, Chairman, Chicago, Ill.; Eugene C. Foster, Secretary, Detroit, Mich.; Frank L. Brown, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Dr. Frank Woodbury, Halifax, N. S.; S. H. Williams, Glastonbury, Conn.; William

C. Johnston, Denver, Colo.; John R. Pepper, Memphis, Tenn.; S. F. Shattuck, Neenah, Wis.; David R. Porter, New York City.

The committee began its work by preparing leaflets containing suggestions for workers and standards for organization; also adopted the "blue and white" button as the emblem for both the Intermediate and Senior Departments, and a certificate of recognition for classes complying with the standards adopted.

The work of the committee has met with most enthusiastic response, and the material prepared has been received by the workers, everywhere, with eagerness. The demands for help and new material continue to Come from all parts of the country. It must be kept in mind that the committee, as well as others, have had to study new methods with which to deal with the problem-methods that would prove more fruitful. Most of the work has been done within the last twelve months, and particularly the last six months.

Organization of a Secondary Division has been effected in thirty-nine States and Provinces. Thirty-seven have appointed superintendents, one employed for full time, nine for part time, and twenty-seven render voluntary service.

Twenty States and Provinces reporting have counties organized. Nebraska leads with ninety; every county organized, with a superintendent in charge. Inland Empire, comprising eastern Washington and northern Idaho, has fifteen of the seventeen counties organized, and Colorado, Minnesota and Kentucky more than one-half.

For the assistance of superintendents, leaflet No. 1, "Organization of Associations,' was prepared. This gives suggestions for work in State or Province, County, District, etc. Leaflet No. 2, "Organization in the Local School," is intended to help in organizing departments and classes of the Intermediate and Senior Departments in the local school.

More than 850 certificates have already been issued to classes organized according to the standard.

The Secondary Division button (royal blue and white) is being largely used. More than 18,500 have been sent out from the International office alone since March 26, 1910.

With the organization of departments and classes, making possible better teaching conditions, the teaching has been much improved. One of the greatest advance steps taken has been the introduction of the International Graded Lessons. Reports indicate that the first year of the Intermediate course has been very generally adopted and has proven interesting and valuable.

Not only has there been a search for better teaching material, but

greater interest has been shown in principles of teaching. Teachers are studying the pupils of this age as never before. Four books for Secondary Division specialization have been approved by the Committee on Education. Many of the Graded Sunday School Teachers' Unions have introduced an Intermediate section giving special help to teachers in these departments.

While the Secondary Division has had no regularly employed International superintendent, the work has been carried on and the State and Provincial associations have, without exception, provided for its presentation on all annual convention programs.

Our work has been publicly presented more than three hundred times within the last year by the different members of the committee. Your committee has had the privilege of presenting the work before the Interdenominational Council and once before a special committee of the Council.

No doubt one of the first and greatest needs in the matter of dealing with our young people, especially those in the upper teens, is the awakening of the whole church officially; an awakening to the alarming fact that, comparatively, only a small percentage of these young people are held to the church.

It is not enough that those directly interested in the Sunday School should study and qualify for this most important problem.

We are only beginning to realize this need, and believe that unless there is shown a definite and direct interest on the part of those who should be most interested the proper results cannot be secured.

It is hoped, by the coöperation of both the church and Sunday School, that a renewed interest will be taken in this too long neglected part of our work and that plans and methods may be found which will prove more fruitful than those used in the past.

Your committee desires to emphasize some vital points and make a most earnest appeal to the church and Sunday School workers of our day in behalf of the young people in their "teens.''

During the critical, adolescent years our young people, all too many, become by easy, and often swift stages, the prey of the saloon, the gambling house, the dance hall and the cheap theater, and by their indifference and through contra-attractions are practically lost to the church and Christian service.

This loss is made for them and for the church during the very years when God speaks most certainly, most persuasively, to their lives, and when, if they had been held to the Christian life, their answer would surely have been different.

The loss has occurred at the very time of life when these young people might be most easily trained for Christian service as teachers and church workers, and when they are seeking channels for the expression of their Christian life in service.

The loss follows the investment in their lives in the Sunday School up to the age of thirteen, of some of the choicest work and workers in

the church.

The patient effort and personal sacrifice involved in adequately meeting the problem has been one of the prices the church has seemed unwilling to pay. Indifference and lack of conception have had their part in the past failure to grapple with the problem.

These facts constitute an indictment and a challenge. We cannotwe dare not-ignore them. How shall they be met? What remedies can be suggested?

Your committee makes the following suggestions: After carefully covering a number of the leading Sunday Schools, the fact is discovered that when there is right planning and devoted effort on the part of both Sunday School and church officials, the loss is largely eliminated and the young people are held happily under the influence of the church.

The strong men and women of the church must consecrate their lives, business ability and heart strength to the teaching and management in the Sunday School of classes of this age.

These men and women must come into close personal touch with the boys and girls of the church.

In addition to the spiritual life, adequate provision must be made by the church for the physical, intellectual and social life of these young people. To leave these three sides of their life unguarded is to surrender these channels of precious opportunity to the enemy.

We need also the presence of those of the church who are wise enough to use this open approach to a young person's life.

This is supremely the organizing age.

The church should harness

its activity to the best ideals for life and service. The organized class and the many helpful organizations especially fitted for the "teen" years should be utilized.

The study of the Bible for these critical years must be made worth while. These young lives should be impressed with the fact that service is necessary to the Christian life. The best church workers of today have almost invariably come from among those who became interested in the higher things of life during the "teen age."

It should be remembered that the percentage of those recovered to the church after the age of nineteen is pitifully small. Therefore, from